Michael Burry's Bearish Prediction on AI Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 24 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MSFT?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Burry's Accusations Against Big Tech: Burry claims that major tech firms like Meta and Microsoft are manipulating accounting practices and extending depreciation schedules to inflate earnings, although he overlooks the long-term value of AI infrastructure and the potential for reusing GPUs.
- CAPEX and Cash Flow Strain: Burry warns that unprecedented capital expenditures will strain cash flow; however, Alphabet's cash from operations has soared from under $100 billion to $164 billion by 2026, demonstrating significant cash flow growth driven by AI.
- NVIDIA Valuation Controversy: Burry compares NVIDIA to Cisco during the 2000 internet bubble, arguing it is overvalued, yet NVIDIA's current P/E ratio of 47 is significantly lower than Cisco's over 200 at its peak, highlighting fundamental differences between the two.
- Surge in H100 Rental Prices: Since mid-December, rental prices for NVIDIA's H100 GPUs have increased by approximately 17%, indicating strong demand for AI infrastructure, which bodes well for related stocks like Nebius and CoreWeave.
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Analyst Views on MSFT
Wall Street analysts forecast MSFT stock price to rise
34 Analyst Rating
32 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 392.740
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
Current: 392.740
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
About MSFT
Microsoft Corporation is a technology company that develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions. Its Productivity and Business Processes segment consists of products and services in its portfolio of productivity, communication, and information services, spanning a variety of devices and platforms. It comprises Microsoft 365 Commercial products and cloud services; Microsoft 365 Consumer products and cloud services; LinkedIn, and Dynamics products and cloud services. The Intelligent Cloud segment consists of its public, private, and hybrid server products and cloud services. It comprises server products and cloud services, including Azure, and enterprise and partner services, including Enterprise Support Services. Its More Personal Computing segment primarily comprises Windows and Devices, including Windows OEM licensing; Gaming, including Xbox hardware and Xbox content; Search and news advertising, comprising Bing and Copilot, Microsoft News, and Microsoft Edge.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Significant Cloud Growth: In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Microsoft reported a 16.7% year-over-year revenue increase to $81.3 billion, with cloud services contributing $51.5 billion, up 26%, indicating strong market demand and sustained growth potential.
- Increased Quantum Investment: Microsoft is heavily investing in its quantum computing ecosystem, introducing the Majorana 1 quantum processor aimed at enhancing computational stability and reducing errors, laying the groundwork for future commercialization.
- Data Center Expansion: The company added nearly 1 gigawatt of data center capacity in Q2 to address the challenge of Azure service demand exceeding supply, demonstrating its ongoing investment and strategic positioning in cloud infrastructure.
- Rapid AI Application Adoption: Microsoft’s Copilot user base surged over 160% year-over-year to 15 million paid users, showcasing its ability to successfully leverage AI in enterprise workflows, further driving revenue growth.
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- Market Reaction: Dow E-minis fell by 494 points (1.01%), S&P 500 E-minis dropped by 72.5 points (1.05%), and Nasdaq 100 E-minis decreased by 332.75 points (1.33%), reflecting investor anxiety about the future economic outlook amid geopolitical tensions.
- Airline Stocks Hit: Travel and airline stocks suffered significantly due to flight cancellations and closures of Middle Eastern airspace, with rising jet fuel costs adding to investor unease and exacerbating market volatility.
- Fed Policy Outlook: As inflation readings continue to pile up, expectations for the Fed to raise interest rates have strengthened, particularly given the increasing divisions among Fed officials regarding the path of rates, prompting investors to closely monitor upcoming economic data.
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- Credit Worthiness of SoftBank Group: S&P has indicated that the credit worthiness of SoftBank Group is likely to deteriorate.
- Investment Assets Impact: The decline in credit worthiness is expected to affect the value of SoftBank's investment assets.
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- Impact on SoftBank's Investment Portfolio: S&P indicates that the liquidity of SoftBank Group's investment portfolio is expected to decline.
- OpenAI's Growing Influence: OpenAI now accounts for a larger share of SoftBank's investment portfolio, contributing to the anticipated worsening of liquidity.
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- Contract Revision Commitment: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that the company would revise its agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense, particularly to include clauses preventing domestic surveillance, aiming to alleviate public concerns over potential misuse of technology and enhance the company's credibility in government contracts.
- Focus on Technical Safety: Altman emphasized that many technologies are not yet ready to handle complex safety trade-offs, and OpenAI will collaborate with the Pentagon to ensure the safe use of its technologies, demonstrating the company's commitment to responsible technology deployment.
- Market Reaction and Competitive Pressure: Following the deal with the Defense Department, public reactions to OpenAI were mixed, with many users reportedly switching to competitor Anthropic's Claude, reflecting a heightened market concern for transparency in AI technology usage, which could impact OpenAI's market share.
- Support for Competitors: Altman urged on social media for the Defense Department not to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk, indicating his emphasis on industry collaboration and aiming to maintain stability and growth within the broader AI ecosystem.
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- Stock Performance: Microsoft's stock has risen approximately 660% over the past decade, with a compounded annual growth rate exceeding 22%, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's long-term average of 10%, yet it has fallen 18% this year, indicating a loss of market confidence.
- AI Investment Impact: While the overall market has been bearish on tech stocks, Microsoft's decline is more pronounced than other tech giants, as evidenced by the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF's modest 7% drop, suggesting that Microsoft's challenges are more complex.
- Valuation and Growth: At the start of 2023, Microsoft's price-to-earnings ratio was around 34, now reduced to 25; although AI has provided some growth, its December quarter growth rate was only 17%, dropping to 15% when excluding foreign exchange, indicating insufficient growth momentum.
- Long-term Investment Potential: Despite the current stock decline, Microsoft boasts a diversified business portfolio, including gaming, office software, and devices, and has amassed over $119 billion in profit over the past 12 months, indicating strong long-term investment value.
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